170 FORESTS AND MANKIND 



life to death or migration. So forestry, by opening up the 

 woods through the removal of large trees and by clearing fire 

 lines and trails, lets sunlight fall on the forest floor aiding the 

 growth of young seedlings and food plants on which the forest 

 animals find forage. 



In many regions where forestry is being practiced, as on 

 National and State forests, tracts of land have been set aside 

 here and there where game may live and raise their young in 

 perpetual security. Some of the National Forests have been 

 made bird and game refuges, for just these purposes. They will 

 serve as areas where wild life may breed and replenish the 

 country about them. They are sanctuaries to the birds in their 

 migrations and to game animals. They will serve too, as wild 

 life museums, since animals protected from the chase learn in 

 a short time to lose their fear of man and here, in their native 

 haunts it will be possible to watch them, enjoy their com- 

 panionship, and study their ways of living. 



In another and entirely different way, too, forestry is proving 

 itself a good friend of the wild things. Forest fires mean de- 

 struction of wild life. Forestry means fire protection. Fire is the 

 great enemy of the forest dweller bird, animal, and fish. It 

 is also the great enemy of the forester. The first duty of the 

 forester, whether in the employ of Government, private owner, 

 or state, is to stop forest fires and every victory for the forester 

 over this destructive enemy of his means a more abundant 

 wild life for the forest. 



It is no new discovery that fire is the great scourge of the 

 wild things. Joel said thousands of years ago, "Yea, the beasts 

 of the field pant unto thee, for a fire devour eth before them 

 and behind them, a flame burneth; the land is as a Garden of 



